Pulp refiners

ABSTRACT

Disc and Conical or Jordan type refiners having a counter rotating or a stationary opposed refining member, of either disc or hollow frustoconical shape, on which are mounted a plurality of spaced freely rotatable pressure rollers. The rollers are preloaded and forced under pressure toward an opposing refining element, so they beat against, compress, and force the raw material against the opposing refining element. There are differential surface speeds between the rollers and the opposing refining element and the raw material. Hence wood chips, saw mill residues, screen rejects, and/or coarse fibers are quickly reduced to acceptable pulp for making paper.

United States Patent 1 a Perry 11 3,708,130 [4 1 'Jan.2,1973

[54] PULP REFINERS [75] Inventor: James H. Perry, Worcester, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Norton Company, Worcester, Mass.

[22] Filed: March 9, 1971 [21] 'Appl. No.: 122,331

52 user... ..L ..241/26o,241/2o6' s11 1nt.Cl. ..B02c7/l2- [58] Field of Search......241/l73, 174, 244, 250, 251

[56] anemia; Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,513,890 5/1970 Voelskow ..24l/256X 938,005 10/1909 Lack'enbach ..241/255 X 1,814,587 7/1931 Daniels ..,...24l/256 1,971,335 8/1934 Benner et a1. 3,129,898 4/1964 Michel er al :....2 4l/256 1 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr.

Attarney-Wa1ter Fred [57] ABSTRACT Disc and Conical or Jordan type refiners having a counter rotating or a stationary opposed refining member, of either disc or hollow frustoconical shape, on which are mounted a plurality of spaced freely rotatable'pressure rollers. The rollers are preloaded and forced under pressure toward an opposing refining element, so they beat against, compress, and force the raw material against the opposing refining element. There are differential. surface speeds between the rollers and the opposing refining element and the raw material. Hence wood chips, saw mill residues,

screen rejects, and/or coarse fibers are quickly reduced to acceptable pulp for making paper.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2l973 3.708,13O

sum 2 or 2 64 I 64 f 44 440 2 74 m INN NTOR JAMEE H. ERR'Y Jaw 11 AGENT PULP REFINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The invention relates to pulp refiners and particularly to a pulp refiner with at least one abrasive refining element and a plurality of pressure applying rollers mounted for free rotation opposite the abrasive element.

2. Description of the Prior Art In conventional disc and frustoconical type refiners the opposing refining members are spaced apart a predetermined fixed amount and a continuous flow of coarse fibrous material is passed between them. The fibrous material is usually of one type, size, and quality and subjected mainly to rotational force exerted by the rotatably driven refining elements. Thus the coarser fibers are easily separated into finer fibers of good quality. However, it is more difficult to produce fine fibers of acceptable quality from a flow containing wood chips, saw mill residues, screen rejects, and/or coarse pulp without recirculating the flow through the refiner several times. This invention hastens and supplements the action of conventional refiners by providing a more turbulent flow, a beating action, and forcing the raw material directly against the refining member.

' U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,129,898, 3,138,336, 3,117,603 and 1,971,335 disclose refiners of the conventional types having either opposed metal or abrasive refining members with spaced opposing surfaces. They are clearly distinguishable from the applicants invention which provides a plurality of pressure exerting rollers rotatably mounted in one of the opposing refining members.

. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I unitary annular structure fixedaround the central axis of a rotatable driven support member. The opposite refining member is either a plurality of equally spaced circular segments or a single unitary annular structure having recesses or slots equally spaced around the central'axis of a second support member fixed thereto. Each recess or slot provides an elongated pocket within which is situated an elongated roller journaled at its opposite ends in and between a pair of axially aligned bearings in a pair of spaced movable and adjustable bearing support members. The bearing support members are slideable within the bores of apair of adjustable support cylinders threaded into or fixed to the second support member. Each support member'has a reduced portion or stem extending through one end of the cylinder and has adjusting nuts threaded thereon. A coil spring is situated around each stem within the bores to bias the bearing support member and hence the roller toward the opposite refining element. By adjusting the nuts theamount of force exerted by the coil v Alternatively, the coil spring pressure is substituted for by directing fluid under constant pressure into the bores in any suitable manner and providing conventional means for controlling, regulating, and varying the pressure.

In addition the axis of rotation of the rollers may be inclined and there is a difference in peripheral speed between the surfaces of the rollers and the opposing refining member.

Therefore, it is the primary object of the invention to provide a pulp refiner having a plurality of freely rotatable, displaceable, and pressure exerting rollers that beat and squeeze the raw material against an opposing refining member and hastens the refinement of the raw material into acceptable fibers for making paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of that portion of a disc type refiner wherein the invention resides;

FIG. 2 is a view of one of the supporting discs on which are mounted a plurality of spaced rollers and refining elements according to the invention, taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the rollers and the bearing support means taken approximately on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4'- 4 of FIG. 3 and showing how each roller is situated in a space between two adjacent refining segments and relatively close to the opposing annular refining element;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view through that portion of a frustoconical or Jordan type refiner wherein the invention resides; 1

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the rollers spaced around a frustoconical refining element or rotor rotatable within a hollow frustoconical refining element; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7 '7 of FIG. 5 and showing how each roller is situated in a space between adjacent segments of the hollow frustoconical refining element and relatively close to the frustoconical refining element or rotor. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 there isshown a portion of a disc upon the base and has a refining chamber with an inlet passage 14b at one side and an outlet passage 140 at a bottom side of the housing connection to the channel 12a. The housing 14 is generally of annular shape with opposed vertical side walls and a circular wall connecting the side walls enclosing a pair of axially spaced opposing substantially coaxial discs or circularplates l6 and 18 within the refining chamber 14a. Disc. 16 is fixedly keyed to a shaft 20 which extends through an opening in theleft side of the housing 14 and may be either held stationary or rotated about its axis by a drive motor 22 coupled to the shaft and fixed to the base 12. The disc 16 has a plurality of inlet passages 16a located near a central portion thereof and through which the material to be refined passes from the feed pipe 24, of a suitable feed means, (not shown). The feed pipe 24 extends into and is supported by an inclined portion 14d and a bearing portion 14c about the shaft 20 both of which extend from the housing 14.

Similarly, the opposing disc or circular plate 18 is fixedly keyed to an end of a shaft 26 substantially in axial alignment with the axis of shaft 20 and extends through a sealed opening in the right hand or opposite side of the housing 14. The shaft 26, need not but preferably, is adapted to be shifted axially to adjust for wear, vary, and provide the proper spacing between the discs 16 and 18. Also the shaft 26 can be held stationary, or rotated about its axis by a drive motor 28 coupled thereto and fixed to the base 12.

Fixedly mounted on an annular face or recessed surface 16b of the disc 16 is an annular refining element 30 which may be either a single unitary structure or ring made up of a plurality of refining elements, known as plates, segments, and sectors. The annular refining element 30 may be of any of the well known conventional types. Preferably the refining element 30 is made of abrasive material instead of metal which can be used. However, abrasive refining elements tend to improve the quality of the pulp, lower the power requirements, and increase the output of the refiner. On the refining element 30 is an annular refining surface or face 30a which may be either a continuous flat planar surface or a planar surface partially interrupted by radially extending grooves.

Spaced from and cooperating with the refining element or member 30 is an opposing or second annular refining member or element 32 comprising an assembled ring of spaced refining plates, segments, or sectors 34 fixed to an annular face or recessed surface 18a on the disc 18. The segments 34 have flat planar surfaces lying in a single plane and collectively provide the refining element 32 with a refining surface or face 32a substantially parallel to the face 300 of refining element 30. As shown in FIG. 2 all the segments 34 are substantially identical and of an arcuate shape which can be placed within the outline of a right triangle. They are equally spaced about and from the axis of the shaft 26, and are separated from each other to form a plurality of spaces, slots, pockets or channels 36 between the segments. Each segment 34 has two converging straight radial plane normal to the axis of the shaft 26 and ex tend outwardly from an inner concentric shoulder 18b and continues through an outer concentric shoulder 180 to the periphery of the disc 18. In the axial direction the slot 36 and sides 34a and 34b extend to the annular face or recessed surface 18a on the disc 18 and to which the segments 34 are bolted.

Means are provided for beating and forcing the raw material to be refined against the opposing refining member 30 and comprises at least one but preferably a plurality of adjustable, displaceable, and free rolling pressure roller mechanism 40 mounted on the disc 18 and within the slots 36.

Each pressure roller mechanism comprises a pair of adjustable bearing support sleeves or cylinders 42 threaded into spaced threaded holes 18d extending through the disc 18 from the recessed surface 18a within the slot 36. The axes of the holes 18dare substantially midway between the sides 34a and 34b and spaced respectively outwardly and inwardly from the inner shoulder 18b and the periphery of the disc 18.

Each of the bearing support sleeves or cylinders 42 has a central bore extending axially therethrough, consisting rf a large diameter cylinder bore 421: extending from one end to a shoulder or end wall and a smaller diameter axially aligned bore 42b extending from the shoulder, and through the end wall to the opposite outer end of the bearing support sleeve 42. Also, the support sleeves have outer end portions with opposing flat surfaces 42c adapted to be engaged by a wrench for adjusting them relative to the disc 18. In each bearing support cylinder 42 is an adjustable and displaceable bearing support, plunger, or piston 44 having a large cylindrical portion 440 slideably mounted in the large cylinder bore 42a and a smaller or reduced cylindrical portion 44b extending therefrom and through the smaller bore 42b in the end wall. The large cylindrical portion 44a of each bearing support plunger 44 extends into a slot 36 and has a bearing hole into which extends an end bearing journal or shaft 46 at each end of a pressure roller 48. Each of the rollers 48 is of larger diameter than the end bearing journals or shafts 46 and ex tends axially between a pair of axially aligned bearing holes and bearing supports 44 which prevent excessive axial movement of the rollers 48. The end bearing shaft or bearing journals 46 can be formed by either extending a shaft axially through the roller or into the ends of the roller or by reducing the opposite ends of the roller to form an integral piece as shown.

Resilient means such as a compressible fluid, rubber washer or the compression spring 50 shown surrounds the smaller cylindrical portion 44b of the bearing support 44 in each of the cylinder bores 42a between a shoulder on the large cylindrical portion 440 and the end wall of the adjustable bearing sleeve or cylinder 42. The compression spring 50 or other compressible resilient means tend to bias the bearing supports 44 and hence the rollers 48 toward the opposing face 30a of the refining element 30. Means are provided for preloading the springs 50 or other compressible resilient means and the pressure rollers 48 sufficiently to force raw pulp material toward the face 30a of the refining element 30 and yet a allow the roller to be displaced axially whenever raw material forced between the roller and the face 300 exerts a force greater than that exerted by the preloaded springs 50. The preloading means comprises a threaded end portion, on the smaller cylindrical portion 44b, that extends beyond the end wall of the cylinder 42 and a pair of adjustable nuts 52 threaded thereon. By turning the nuts 52in the proper direction the springs 50 or other resilient means can be compressed various amounts to vary the pressure exerted by the rollers against the raw material being refined.

Alternatively, the pressure exerted by the springs 50 or other resilient means could be substituted for by supplying source of fluid under pressure into the cylinder bores 42a around the portion 44b between the large cylindrical portion 44a and the end wall of the cylinder 42. This could be done in any suitable manner. For example the smaller cylindrical portion 44b could have as shown in FIG. 4 a central feed passage or hole extending axially from the threaded end and connected to the cylindrical bore 42a by a crossfeed hole or passage and a suitable fluid conduit attached to the threaded end of each smaller cylindrical portion 44b.

Suitable shaft sealing means such as a conventional O-ring 54 is provided between each bearing support cylinder 42 and the large cylindrical portion 44a of the movable bearing support 44 for preventing the passage of dirt or other foreign matter and fluid under pressure. It can be seen that when the rollers 48 are displaced away from the face 30a of the refining element 30 that the bearing supports, plungers or pistons 44 are also displaced axially about axes substantially normal to the face 30a and parallel to the axis of the shaft 26. The springs 50 or other resilient compressible fluid or material substituted therefore is compressed in the cylinder bore 420.

As shown in FIG. 2 the rollers 48 are inclined so each of them rotates about an axis X situated at a predetermined angle A of from 1 to from a radial plane R extending outwardly from and normal to the axis of shaft 26 to and intersectingthe axis X at the outer end of each roller 48. Disc 18 rotates clockwise when observed from the end of shaft 26 in FIG. 2 and each roller 48 is shown inclined with the outer end, at the intersection of the plane R and the axis X, pointing away from the direction of rotation of the disc 18 and following the inner end of the roller. However, the disc 18 may be fixed or held against rotation relative to the disc 16 which could be, if desired, rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise so that the outer ends of the rollers point either away from or in the direction of rotation of the disc 16. Likewise, the disc 16 could be fixed or held stationary and the disc 18 rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise relative thereto. Alternatively, the design of the segments 34 could be reversed so the pockets or channels 36 and the rollers 48 are inclined in an opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 2. Hence the outer ends of the rollers would be. leading the inner ends thereof and pointing in the clockwise direction of rotation of the disc 18. It is also, conceivable that the segments 34 could be made and mounted so as to provide alternate oppositely inclined channels 36 and rollers 48 around the disc 18.

In FIG. 4 is shown the relative position of the periphery of each roller 48 to the face a which can be varied to suit the material being processed. When the pressure of springs 50 or other resilient means or fluid pressure has been adjusted and exerted against the portions 44a, the bearing support, plungers, or pistons 44 are extended axially until arrested by engagement of the nuts 52 with the end walls of the bearing support cylinders 42. Thereafter the bearing support cylinders 42 can be rotated and moved equal amounts to properly position the rollers 48 substantially parallel to the surface 30a. The rollers 48 are positioned so that their peripheral surfaces extend at least into the refining zone between the faces 30a and 32a respectively of the opposing annular refining members 30 and 32 so the pressure rollers 48 contact, beat, and squeeze the thin layer of raw material between the faces 30a and 32a. If desired the rollers 48 could be adjusted so that either each succeeding roller is positioned progressively closer to the face 30a whereby the pressure on the raw material is increased as it passes by each succeeding roller spaced closer to the face 30a than the preceding roller.

The rollers 48 can be made with either smooth or abrading circumferential surfaces and of suitable material, such as, metal, rubber, and abrasive. Preferably the cylindrical pressure rollers 48 are made to have abrading circumferential surfaces to contact and fibrillate the material to be refined. Abrading surfaces can be provided by either roughening, grooving, knurling, or molding the rollers to produce a pattern of peaks and valleys thereon or by bonding particles of conventional abrasive materials, such as, metal, metal oxides,.and metal carbides to the circumferential surfaces of the rollers 48. Preferably the rollers 48 have a cylindrical layer or an abrasive cylinder 48a of bonded abrasive particles fixed about and to a cylindrical metal core 48b including the bearing journals 46. Altematively, the abrasive cylinder 480 could be made with a thicker wall and smaller central hole and fixed directly to a shaft passing through it, of the same diameter as the bearing journals 46.

During the refining operation material to be refined into suitable pulp for making paper flows continuously from the feed pipe 24, through the passages 16a in disc 16, into the space between the disc 16 and 18. Then the material is driven, by rotation of at least the disc 16 centrifugally out between preferably abrasive refining faces 30a and 32a of opposed annular counter rotating abrasive refining elements 30 and 32 and between the abrasive rollers 48 and the face 30a. For a clearer understanding of the invention, the flow of the raw pulp material confined axially between faces 30a and 32a can be visualized as thin annular disc of compressible resilient material that is moving simultaneously both radially and rotationally about the axis of the shafts 20 and26. The rotational movement of the material at the side of the disc that engages each of the rollers 48 increases continuously in surface feet per minute for each revolution when measured at increasingly greater distances from the axis of the shafts 20 and 26. That is,

the outer ring or circle of material engaging the outer ends of rollers 48 is farther from the axis of rotation and of larger diameter and circumference than the inner ring or circle of material engaging the inner ends of rollers 48. Therefore, the raw material engaging the outer ends of rollers 48 moves faster during each revolution around the axis than the raw material engaging the inner ends of the rollers 48. Assuming that the rollers 48 are of substantially constant diameter and are being rotatably driven about their axes by the greater movement and speed of the material at the outer ends of the rollers, then the abrading surface of the rollers 48 are moving faster and abrading and fibrillating the relatively slower moving material. The speed of the material gradually decreases relative to the rollers 48 from the outer ends toward inner ends of the rollers 48.

Further, the inclination of the rollers 48 causes the moving material to contact and drive the rollers at an angle to a line of driving contact on the periphery of each roller parallel to the axis X. As a result of the driving force being presented at an angle, an axial thrust is put upon the rollers and their rotational speed is reduced from that which would be attained by an equivalent force applied to a line of driving contact perpendicular to the driving force. Hence the material and the opposing disc 16 driving it are moving at differential speeds relative to the rollers which tend to hasten refinement of the material.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and relates to a modified frustoconical or Jordan type of pulp refiner 60 similar to that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,971,335 and to which reference may be had for details not disclosed herein. Refiner 60 has a base or main support 61, a housing 62 having an opposing hollow frustoconical support member, or shell forming the wall portion of the housing around a refining chamber between large and small circular end flanges 62a and 62b fixed relative to the base 61. An inlet bearing support housing 64 on the base, has a circular flange 64a fixed to flange 62a, an inlet feed chamber 64b with opposed inlet openings, opposed flanges 640 for connecting inlet feed conduits thereto, and a central hole 64d in an end wall 64c. An axially adjustable bearing 65 is centered in the central hole 64d and has a bearing hole 65a and a flange by which it is fixed, by bolts and adjustable bushings to the end wall 64c.

Fixed to the base 61 at the opposite smaller end of the refiner is an outlet bearing support housing 66 with an integral flange 66a fixed, as by bolt-ing, to flange 62b, an outlet chamber 66b with opposed outlet openings, opposed flanges 66c for connecting outlet pipes or conduits thereto, and a central hole 66d in an end wall 66e.

A second axially adjustable bearing 68 is centered in the central hole 66d and has a bearing hole 68a in axial alignment with the bearing hole 64a and a flange by which it is fixed by bolts and adjusting bushings to the end wall 66e.

A rotatable support shaft 70 is coupled to and driven by a drive motor M, fixed to the base, and has axially spaced bearing journals 70a and 70b rotatably supported in the bearing holes 65a and 68a. Fixedly keyed to the support shaft 70 is a rotatable frustoconical refining member or rotor 72 rotatable within a frustoconical refining chamber or zone 74 within the housing 62 between the bearings 65 and 68. The refining rotor 72 may be of any conventional type, such as those having either straight or spiral flutes thereon, but is preferably made with conventional abrading material, such as particles of metal, metal oxides and carbides on the rotatable frustoconical refining surface thereon. The abrading material may be in the form of a layer of abrasive particles, an annular unitary body or segments of bonded abrasive bonded or bolted to an inner core or bushing 72a of the rotor 72. Alternatively the rotor 72 may be a solid unity frustoconical bonded abrasive structure fixed to the shaft 70 in any well known manner.

Mounted on an inner concave frustoconical surface 620 of the shell 62 are a plurality of spaced arcuate segments 78 which together form an opposing annular frustoconical refining member or stator 80 fixed relative to the rotor 72. Each of the segments 78 is fixed, as by bolting, to the shell 62 and has a pair of angularly spaced side surfaces 78a and 78b extending inwardly from the shell and axially about the rotor 72. There are a plurality of slots, channels or pockets 82 of substantially uniform width formed between and by the substantially parallel side surfaces 78a and 78b of adjacent spaced segments 78. 4

The segments 78 may be made in the conventional manner with either straight or spiral internal splines or flutes on the concave surfaces and hence on the opposing concave frustoconical refining surface of the refining element or stator 80. Preferably the segments 78 are made with a conventional abrading material, such as those disclosed to make the rotor 72, on their internal concave surfaces. The abrading material may be in the form of a layer of abrasive particles bonded to supporting segments of different composition to form composite segments or in solid unitary bonded abrasive segments as shown.

Means are provided for beating and forcing the raw material to be refined against the rotatable frustoconical refining rotor 72 and comprises at least one but preferably a plurality of adjustable, displaceable, and free rolling pressure roller mechanisms substantially identical to the roller mechanisms 40 described above. The principal differences between the mechanisms 140 and 40 are that the roller on mechanism 140 is usually, but not necessarily, of greater axial length and the mechanism 140 is mounted so that the line of driving contact and the axis of the roller lie in the same radial plane and not inclined or skewed relative to the radial plane extending from the axis to the tapered surface of the rotor 72. Each pressure roller mechanism comprises a pair of adjustable bearing support sleeves or cylinders 142 threaded into axially spaced threaded holes 62d spaced around and extending through the shell 62 adjacent'each of the flanges 62a and 62b and the opposite ends of the channels or pockets 82. The axis of the holes 62d are substantially midway between the walls 78a and 78b of the adjacent segments 78 forming the channels or slots 82. The bearing support sleeves or cylinders 142 each have a central bore extending axially therethrough comprising a large diameter cylinder bore 142a extending from one end to a shoulder-or end wall and a smaller diameter axially aligned bore 142b extending through the end wall to the opposite end. There are opposing flat surfaces 142a on the outer end portions of the bearing sleeves 142 for applying a wrench to adjust them relative to the shell 62.

An adjustable and displaceable bearing support, plunger or piston 144 is slideably mounted in each of cylinder 142 and has a large cylindrical portion 144a slideable in the large cylinder bore 142a and a smaller reduced cylindrical portion or shaft extending therefrom and through the smaller bore 142b in the end wall. The large cylindrical portions l44a of each pair of axially spaced plungers 144 extends into a slot or channel 82 and have axially aligned bearing holes into each of which extends an end bearing journal or shaft 146 at opposite ends of a pressure roller 148. Preferably the rollers 148 are cylindrical, have an abrading surface thereon, constructed in the same manner, and of the same materials as the rollers 48 described above.

Resilient means, which may be either of those discussed above or compression springs 150 shown surround the smaller portion l44b in each cylinder bore 142a between the end wall of the sleeve 142 and the shoulder on the large cylindrical piston 144a. Similarly, the springs 150 or compressible resilient means and hence the pressure rollers 148 are preloaded to bias the rollers toward the rotor 72 and allow them to be displaced therefrom when overcome by a force, greater than that exerted by the preloaded resilient means. The preloading means comprises adjustable nuts 152 threaded onto the threaded end portion of the smaller cylindrical portion l44b beyond the end wall. Rotating the nuts 152 varies the amount of pressure exerted by the spring 150 or other resilient means compressed thereby.

Fluid under regulated pressure can be substituted for the spring 150 or other resilient means. A central passage and a cross feed hole are provided in the portion 144a as shown in FIG. 7 for conveying fluid into and out of the cylinder bore 142a and through a suitable conduit which may be attached to the threaded end portion 144b in the conventional manner. Also an O- ring 154 is provided in each bore 142a of the bearing support sleeves 142 for sealing engagement with the large cylindrical portion 144a of the plungers144 to prevent passage of foreign matter and fluid under pressure thereby.

By adjusting the bearing support sleeves 142 at opposite ends of the rollers 148 equally the axes as well as the cylindrical surface of the rollers 148 can be positioned substantially parallel to and at various distances from the abrasive surface of the opposing frustoconical rotor 72. As shown the rollers 148 are positioned to extend into the refining zone 74 and closer to the rotor 72 than the segments 78 of the frustoconical annular refining stator 80. However, the tapered surface of the refining rotor 72 and the axis of rotation X of each of the cylindrical rollers 148 are inclined relative to the axis Y of rotation of the rotor 72 at substantially the same angle B of from 1 to As a result the diameter and circumference of the rotor 72 varies continuously between the large and small diameter end portions of the rotor 72.

When the refiner 60 is operating the raw material is passed from the inlet feed chamber 64b and axially through the chamber 74 to the outlet 66b, the revolving rotor 72 tends to rotate and spiral the raw material through an annular frustoconical refining zone between the rotor 72 and stator 80. The rotary movement of the material driven by the largest diameter and circumference of the rotor 72 moves at a faster surface speed per minute during each revolution than the material driven by the portions of smaller diameter and circumference on the rotor 72. Thus the surface speed of the rotor and the material driven thereby varies and decreases continuously from its maximum diameter to its smallestdiameter relative to the stationary abrading surface of the refining stator 80. Assuming then that the cylindrical rollers 148 of constant diameter are rotated about their axes at the speed of the material contacting them at the large diameter of rotor 72, then the abrading surfaces of the rollers are moving at continuously varying faster differential surface speeds relative to the material driven by other portions of the rotor 72. Hence, the surfaces of the rollers abrade, fibrillate,

and hasten the refinement of the raw pulp material. In addition the spiral movement of the material about the axis of the rotor 72 causes the material to pass and drag across the line of driving contact on the roller and the radial plane R at a helix angle. Also, the raw material being refined is continuously supplied and maintained in the form of a frustoconical ring of a wall thickness defined by the refining zone between the opposed surfaces of the rotor 72 and the stator 80. The material is constantly bearing against the portions of the rollers protruding into the refining zone and being compressed, squeezed and forced thereby against the abrading surface of the rotor 72 so as to loosen the bond and break up the larger fibers into finer fibers suitable for making paper.

The invention provides pulp refiners wherein less power is consumed, the refining process is speeded up,

less recirculation of the raw material is required, and.

quality pulp is produced from good as well as the poor and less desirable raw materials.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention pulp refiners in accordance with which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. As many possible embodiments and modifications may be made of the above invention and as many, changes might be made in the embodiments disclosed, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and includes all equivalent forms, modifications and embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appending claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for refining raw material into pulp suitable for making paper comprising:

a main support; a housing fixed relative to the main support and about a refining chamber within the housing; means fixed to the housing for conveying raw material into the refining chamber and refined material out of and away from the refining chamber; rotatable refining means including a rotatable refining member and a rotatable refining surface thereon rotatably mounted on the .main support for rotation about its axis and within the refining chamber in the housing, for refining the raw material; opposing refining means, including an opposing refining member and an opposing refining surface opposite and spaced a predetermined distance from the rotatable refining surface of the rotatable refining means within the housing, for providing a refining zone and refining the raw material in the refining zone between the rotatable and opposing refining surfaces; drive means, on the support, for rotating the rotatable refining means including the rotatable refining surface thereon relative to the opposing refining means and the opposing refining surface thereon; and at least one pressure roller mechanism including a roller mounted on one of the refining means so that a portion of the roller extends into the refining zone between the refining surfaces,

whereby the roller engages, beats, compresses, and forces the raw material in the refining zone against the refining surface opposite the roller.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the refining means on which at least one pressure roller mechanism is mounted further comprises:

support means for supporting at least one pressure roller mechanism and one of the refining members having a channel for each roller mounted thereon, and an opening to each channel in one of the refining surfaces for inserting a roller into each channel.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprismg:

a rotatable support member on which the rotatable refining member is mounted; and

an opposing support member on which at least one pressure roller mechanism and the opposing refining member is mounted; and the opposing refining member has a channel for each roller in the opposing refining member, and

an opening to each channel in the opposing refining surface for inserting a roller into each channel.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each pressure roller mechanism further comprises:

a pair of axially spaced bearing supports supported by the opposing support member, extending into the channel, and adapted to engage end bearing journals on opposite end portions of the roller and support the roller for rotation about an axis of the roller.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of the bearing supports comprises:

an adjustable plunger adjustable relative to the opposing support member and having a bearing hole in which one of the end bearing journals of the roller is supported.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the adjustable plunger is slideable relative to the opposing support member;

and the pressure roller mechanism further comprises biasing means for moving the plunger and roller relative to the opposing support member and force the roller and the raw material at a predetermined amount of pressure toward the rotatable refining surface opposite the roller; and

stop means for positioning and limiting movement of the plunger and roller relative to opposing support member and the rotatable refining surface opposite the roller.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the opposing support member has an inner surface on which the refining member is mounted at the bottom of each channel,

an outer surface opposite the inner surface,

a pair of spaced threaded holes, extending from the inner surface within each channel to the outer surface; and wherein each pressure roller mechanism further comprises a pair of adjustable bearing support cylinders threaded into the threaded holes in the opposing support member and each bearing support cylinder having a threaded portion having a large cylinder bore therein, an opening to the large cylinder bore at one end, the plunger slideable in the large cylinder bore,

and the biasing means in the cylinder bore between the plunger and the bearing support cylinder; an end wall at an opposite end of the bearing support cylinder having a smaller bore therein; and

adjusting means on the opposite end portion for engagement by a tool for adjusting the bearing support cylinder, the plunger, and the roller simultaneously relative to the opposing support member and the refining surface opposite the roller.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the adjustable plunger has a large cylindrical portion slideably mounted in the large cylinder bore in the bearing support cylinder; and

a smaller cylindrical portion extending from the large cylindrical portion through the smaller bore in the end wall and beyond an outer surface of the end wall.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the biasing means comprises a resilient member in the large cylinder bore compressible between the large cylindrical portion of the plunger and the end wall; and wherein the stop means comprises adjustable stop means on the smaller cylindrical portion of plunger for varying the position and the limiting movement of the plunger relative to the opposing support member and the bearing support cylinder and compressing the resilient means sufficiently to apply the predetermined force.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the rotatable and the opposing refining support members comprises a pair of opposed axially aligned and spaced rotatable and opposing support discs on which the rotatable and opposing refining members are fixedly mounted; and the rotatable and opposing refining members comprises a pair of opposed, axially aligned, and spaced rotatable and opposing annular discs fixedly mounted on the rotatably and opposing discs and having rotatable and opposing abrasive refining surfaces thereon, whereby the apparatus is substantially a disc type refiner.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the opposing annular disc comprises a plurality of abrasive segments spaced from each other around an axis of the opposing support disc thereby providing a plurality of the channels and rollers therein; and wherein each of the rollers in the channels have I an abrasive cylindrical surface.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the channels and rollers are situated so the axis of each roller is inclined in a direction substantially parallel to the refining surfaces at an angle of from 1 to 25 from a plane extending radially from an axis of the refining members lying in the plane.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising opposing drive means on the main support from counter rotating the opposing support member and the opposing refining member thereon in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the rotatable refining member about its axis whereby the apparatus is substantially a double revolving disc refiner.

14. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the opposing support member is i an opposing hollow frustoconical support member 10 refining member; and the rotatable refining surface is i a rotatable frustoconical convex exterior abrasive I refining surface spaced from and substantially parallel to the opposing inner frustoconical concave surface whereby the apparatus is substantially a conical type refiner.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the op posing annular frustoconical refining member comprises:

a plurality of abrasive segments spaced from each other around the central axis thereby providing a plurality of channels and rollers therein; and wherein each of the rollers have an abrasive cylindrical surface.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the channels and rollers are situated so the axis of each roller is inclined relative to the central axis and parallel to the rotatable frustoconical convex exterior abrasive refining surface on the rotatable frustoconical refinin member. 

1. Apparatus for refining raw material into pulp suitable for making paper comprising: a main support; a housing fixed relative to the main support and about a refining chamber within the housing; means fixed to the housing for conveying raw material into the refining chamber and refined material out of and away from the refining chamber; rotatable refining means including a rotatable refining member and a rotatable refining surface thereon rotatably mounted on the main support for rotation about its axis and within the refining chamber in the housing, for refining the raw material; opposing refining means, including an opposing refining member and an opposing refining surface opposite and spaced a predetermined distance from the rotatable refining surface of the rotatable refining means within the housing, for providing a refining zone and refining the raw material in the refining zone between the rotatable and opposing refining surfaces; drive means, on the support, for rotating the rotatable refining means including the rotatable refining surface thereon relative to the opposing refining means and the opposing refining surface thereon; and at least one pressure roller mechanism including a roller mounted on one of the refining means so that a portion of the roller extends into the refining zone between the refining surfaces, whereby the roller engages, beats, compresses, and forces the raw material in the refining zone against the refining surface opposite the roller.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the refining means on which at least one pressure roller mechanism is mounted further comprises: support means for supporting at least one pressure roller mechanism and one of the refining members having a channel for Each roller mounted thereon, and an opening to each channel in one of the refining surfaces for inserting a roller into each channel.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: a rotatable support member on which the rotatable refining member is mounted; and an opposing support member on which at least one pressure roller mechanism and the opposing refining member is mounted; and the opposing refining member has a channel for each roller in the opposing refining member, and an opening to each channel in the opposing refining surface for inserting a roller into each channel.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each pressure roller mechanism further comprises: a pair of axially spaced bearing supports supported by the opposing support member, extending into the channel, and adapted to engage end bearing journals on opposite end portions of the roller and support the roller for rotation about an axis of the roller.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of the bearing supports comprises: an adjustable plunger adjustable relative to the opposing support member and having a bearing hole in which one of the end bearing journals of the roller is supported.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the adjustable plunger is slideable relative to the opposing support member; and the pressure roller mechanism further comprises biasing means for moving the plunger and roller relative to the opposing support member and force the roller and the raw material at a predetermined amount of pressure toward the rotatable refining surface opposite the roller; and stop means for positioning and limiting movement of the plunger and roller relative to opposing support member and the rotatable refining surface opposite the roller.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the opposing support member has an inner surface on which the refining member is mounted at the bottom of each channel, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, a pair of spaced threaded holes, extending from the inner surface within each channel to the outer surface; and wherein each pressure roller mechanism further comprises a pair of adjustable bearing support cylinders threaded into the threaded holes in the opposing support member and each bearing support cylinder having a threaded portion having a large cylinder bore therein, an opening to the large cylinder bore at one end, the plunger slideable in the large cylinder bore, and the biasing means in the cylinder bore between the plunger and the bearing support cylinder; an end wall at an opposite end of the bearing support cylinder having a smaller bore therein; and adjusting means on the opposite end portion for engagement by a tool for adjusting the bearing support cylinder, the plunger, and the roller simultaneously relative to the opposing support member and the refining surface opposite the roller.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the adjustable plunger has a large cylindrical portion slideably mounted in the large cylinder bore in the bearing support cylinder; and a smaller cylindrical portion extending from the large cylindrical portion through the smaller bore in the end wall and beyond an outer surface of the end wall.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the biasing means comprises a resilient member in the large cylinder bore compressible between the large cylindrical portion of the plunger and the end wall; and wherein the stop means comprises adjustable stop means on the smaller cylindrical portion of plunger for varying the position and the limiting movement of the plunger relative to the opposing support member and the bearing support cylinder and compressing the resilient means sufficiently to apply the predetermined force.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the rotatable and the opposing refining support members comprises a pair of opposed axiallY aligned and spaced rotatable and opposing support discs on which the rotatable and opposing refining members are fixedly mounted; and the rotatable and opposing refining members comprises a pair of opposed, axially aligned, and spaced rotatable and opposing annular discs fixedly mounted on the rotatably and opposing discs and having rotatable and opposing abrasive refining surfaces thereon, whereby the apparatus is substantially a disc type refiner.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the opposing annular disc comprises a plurality of abrasive segments spaced from each other around an axis of the opposing support disc thereby providing a plurality of the channels and rollers therein; and wherein each of the rollers in the channels have an abrasive cylindrical surface.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the channels and rollers are situated so the axis of each roller is inclined in a direction substantially parallel to the refining surfaces at an angle of from 1* to 25* from a plane extending radially from an axis of the refining members lying in the plane.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising opposing drive means on the main support from counter rotating the opposing support member and the opposing refining member thereon in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the rotatable refining member about its axis whereby the apparatus is substantially a double revolving disc refiner.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the opposing support member is an opposing hollow frustoconical support member and wall of the housing extending around the refining chamber having a central axis, and an opposing inner frustoconical concave surface; the opposing refining member is an opposing annular frustoconical refining member fixed to the opposing inner frustoconical concave surface of the housing and having an opposing inner frustoconical concave abrasive refining surface; and the rotatable refining member is a rotatable frustoconical refining member rotatable about the central axis and within the refining chamber and the opposing annular frustoconical refining member; and the rotatable refining surface is a rotatable frustoconical convex exterior abrasive refining surface spaced from and substantially parallel to the opposing inner frustoconical concave surface whereby the apparatus is substantially a conical type refiner.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the opposing annular frustoconical refining member comprises: a plurality of abrasive segments spaced from each other around the central axis thereby providing a plurality of channels and rollers therein; and wherein each of the rollers have an abrasive cylindrical surface.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the channels and rollers are situated so the axis of each roller is inclined relative to the central axis and parallel to the rotatable frustoconical convex exterior abrasive refining surface on the rotatable frustoconical refining member. 